Dubuque Iowa's swing bridge

[Anonymous]

This topic follows the discussion of the Omaha bridge on the CN/IC's Iowa Division.
What is the CN thinking about doing with the swing bridge in Dubuque, Iowa? The bridge itself is over one hundred years old. I believe it was built to its current state in 1886 with some modifications over the past 118 years. The last work done to the bridge was a couple of years ago when CWR and metal walkways were installed on the bridge. Isn't this just putting a bandaid on a gunshot wound? I heard that there was speculation in a new bridge being built south of Dubuque and the original bridge and tunnel approach would be abandoned. Is there any validity to any of my observations/questions?

Sam

[oskar]

is Dubuque,Iowa a good place to go





kevin

[MP173]

Dubuque and East Dubuque are really great places to visit. Nice scenery and pretty interesting rail operations.

The BN and IC (oops, BNSF and CN) share track on the east side of the river and then the CN pops into a bluff and exits crossing the BNSF tracks and crosses the Mississippi.

On the west side the CN runs back south and then begins a climb out of the valley. The ICE line from Marquette comes down and has a yard on the north side of town. It continues down south thru very scenic communities along the river.

Galena is east of Dubuque and has the CN line curving thru following the river. A few years ago one of the road crossings was protected by wig - wag signals. Dont know if it is still there, but it was the only one I have ever seen.

ed

[MP173]

cbqfan007:

Is MP 200 near Prairie du Chien?

[Anonymous]

Prarie du Chien is 245ish I'm not sure on the specific MP number. MP 200 is Potosi. 15 rail miles north of East Dubuque--MP 185 and 100 railmiles from La Crosse.
Also, there is still a wig-wag crossing signal in Galena, Illinois and now with winter approaching, shooting in at the bluff while standing on the frozen Mississippi would make for great shots in a raging blizzard. (That's when I'm out ice fishing)

[Anonymous]

Mr Hemphill, I am very well aware of the new HWY 20 bridge being constructed as being a local resident of the tri-state area.
The former East Cabin interlocking cabin will be removed in the wake of the construction of this new highway bridge. (Darn trucking and auto intrests.)
But to add a little more to the speculation of this bridge, the bridge piers are starting to erode away where they were driven into the sediment of the riverbed. The bridge shifted considerably the winter before the CWR and walkway installiations. I think it was spring 2002. Add to it the goal of the city of Dubuque wanting rid of the trackage that occupies valuable land that they would like to see part of the America's River project, this might be an incentive for the State of Iowa, the City of Dubuque, and the US DOT to shell out money for new construction for the removal of a public eyesore.
I doubt this will happen but there has been preliminary engineering work done on the part of the city of Dubuque and the state of Iowa, as to where a new bridge could be constructed.

[greyhounds]

A week ago I drove down along the Mississippi from Minneapolis to Dubuque and I highly reccomend that for your average railfan. Just great stuff.

Got along the river at Red Wing, MN. Met three northound CP trains between there and La Crosse. Ate lunch at La Crosse and was filling my gas tank as a BN intermodal headed south out of town. Caught up with him on Wisconsin 35 which is just a great drive along the river with the double track BNSF between you and the river.

I was pacing the train when we went past a lock and dam. The tow boat "New Dawn" was in the lock as the train and I went by. I would have loved to have had a photo of that. I mean the lock is right next to the bank and the tracks. Caught up with a SB manifest at Prairie du Chien. It had several of those new white BNSF reefer boxcars. But the road left the railroad and the river there.

Got to E. Dubuque and there was a traffic jam. Two NB BNSF manifest holding as what looked to be an empty ore hopper train scooted by. Behind the two BNSF trains was a CN local with two black SD's lettered "Illinois Central".

It was getting dark and I had about 180 miles to go. If it would have been a week earlier I would have stayed the night in Dubuque. They've got a greyhound track - and, as you can tell from my name, I would have been in attendance on a Friday night.

Unfortunately for me, the track only runs in the warm months and Oct. 30 was their last day with live races until May, 2005. (The dogs go down to winter season tracks in Florida and Texas.)

But I got to see a lot of trains in nice pleasant country. I recomend Dubuque and especially that stretch of Wisconsin 35 south of La Crosse.

[jeaton]

Unless it has changed post 9/11, there is parking at L&D 9 for a public viewing spot that is between the river and the railroad. If it is still open-good as any spot for trainwatching.

Jay